Esthetician Schools in Illinois
If you hope to become an esthetician in Illinois, there's no time like the present to begin your journey. In recent years, the field of esthetics has seen explosive growth. Illinois, the sixth most populous state in the U.S. and home to Chicago, the nation's third-largest city, is at the forefront of many of the latest trends in esthetics.
Browse our directory of esthetician schools in Illinois, or skip ahead to learn about the state's esthetician licensing requirements and job outlook.
Browse All Esthetician Schools in Illinois
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![Cameo Beauty Academy](/sites/default/files/schools/Cameo_Beauty_Academy.jpg)
700 East Terra Cotta Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
![Cosmetology & Spa Academy - Crystal Lake](/sites/default/files/schools/Cosmetology_and_Spa_Academy.jpg)
![Cosmetology & Spa Academy - Elgin](/sites/default/files/schools/Cosmetology_and_Spa_Academy.jpg)
657 Highgrove Place
Rockford, IL 61108
![Cosmetology & Spa Academy - Rockford](/sites/default/files/schools/Cosmetology_and_Spa_Academy.jpg)
142 East Golf Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
![Cosmetology & Spa Academy - Schaumburg](/sites/default/files/schools/Cosmetology_and_Spa_Academy.jpg)
2828 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
![Douglas J Aveda Institute - Chicago](/sites/default/files/schools/douglas-j-aveda-institute.png)
3602 Marquette Road Suite 2
Peru, IL 61354
![Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology - Peru](/sites/default/files/schools/Educators_of_Beauty_College_of_Cosmetology.jpg)
6943 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
![Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology - Rockford](/sites/default/files/schools/Educators_of_Beauty_College_of_Cosmetology.jpg)
211 East 3rd Street
Sterling, IL 61081
![Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology - Sterling](/sites/default/files/schools/Educators_of_Beauty_College_of_Cosmetology.jpg)
![Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute](/sites/default/files/schools/Estelle_Skin_Care_and_Spa_Institute.jpg)
1200 Harger Road Suite 100
Oak Brook, IL 60523
![G Skin & Beauty Institute - Oak Brook](/sites/default/files/schools/G_Skin_Beauty_Institute.jpg)
![Hair Professionals Beauty School](/sites/default/files/schools/G_Skin_Beauty_Institute.jpg)
5460 U.S. Highway 34
Oswego, IL 60543
![Hair Professionals Career College - Oswego](/sites/default/files/no-image.jpg)
10321 South Roberts Road
Palos Hills, IL 60465
![Hair Professionals Career College - Palos Hills](/sites/default/files/no-image.jpg)
2245 Gateway Drive
Sycamore, IL 60178
![Hair Professionals Career College - Sycamore](/sites/default/files/schools/Hair_Professionals_Career_College.jpg)
4335 West 147th Street
Midlothian, IL 60445
![John Amico School of Hair Design - Midlothian](/sites/default/files/no-image.jpg)
15301 South Cicero Avenue
Oak Forest, IL 60452
![John Amico School of Hair Design - Oak Forest](/sites/default/files/schools/John_Amico_School_of_Hair_Design.jpg)
![Naperville Skin Institute](/sites/default/files/schools/G_Skin_Beauty_Institute.jpg)
![New Age Spa Institute](/sites/default/files/schools/New_Age_Spa_Institute.jpg)
![Rosel School of Cosmetology](/sites/default/files/schools/Rosel_School_of_Cosmetology.png)
1037-1043 Curtiss Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515
![The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology](/sites/default/files/schools/University-of-Aesthetics-and-Cosmetology.png)
7350 West 87th Street
Bridgeview, IL 60455
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Bridgeview](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
6458 North Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60626
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Chicago](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
264 South Randall Road
Elgin, IL 60123
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Elgin](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
530 East North Avenue
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Glendale Heights](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
751 East Park Avenue
Libertyville, IL 60048
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Libertyville](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
755 West Raab Road
Normal, IL 61761
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Normal](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
5321 North Harlem Avenue
Chicago, IL 60656
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Norwood Park](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
602 West Glen Avenue
Peoria, IL 61614
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Peoria](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
5485 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Rockford](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
202 East University Street Suites H-J
Urbana, IL 61801
![Tricoci University of Beauty Culture - Urbana](/sites/default/files/schools/Tricoci_University_of_Beauty_Culture.jpg)
2913 West White Oaks Drive
Springfield, IL 62704
![University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts](/sites/default/files/schools/University_of_Spa_and_Cosmetology_Arts.jpg)
ABC School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology – Accredited
Lake In The Hills, IL 60156
G Skin & Beauty Institute - Schaumburg – Accredited
Schaumburg, IL 60195
Im Beauty School - Cosmetology, Nail Technology, Esthetics
Glenview, IL 60025
Paul Mitchell The School Bradley – Accredited
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.
Esthetician Schools Near Me
Check out the Esthetics/Skin Care schools these cities in Illinois have to offer.
How to Become a Esthetician in Illinois
- 750 education hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 2 years.
- 10 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- The average for estheticians in Illinois is $53,490 ($25.72/hour).
- There is a predicted 6% job increase between 2018 - 2028 for estheticians.
According to the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR), you must meet the following requirements to become an esthetician in Illinois:
A cosmetology license, which requires 1,500 hours of training, may allow you to practice as an esthetician in Illinois. In contrast, an esthetician's license only allows you to work as an esthetician.
Illinois Esthetics Careers
Average yearly salary for esthetics in Illinois
Estheticians (also called skincare specialists) tend to earn slightly higher salaries than cosmetologists. In Illinois, estheticians earned a mean salary of $53,490 per year ($25.72 per hour) as of 2021, while cosmetologists earned $42,660.
In Illinois, esthetician jobs are expected to grow by 6% between 2018-2028.
The highest-paying metro areas for estheticians in Illinois are:
Data from CareerOneStop (2022)
How to Become an Esthetician in Illinois
Required to earn a esthetics license
Estheticians in Illinois are qualified to perform cosmetic treatments; they're restricted from treating the deeper skin layers. Their work includes beautifying, massaging, cleansing, exfoliating, and stimulating the outer layer of skin. They may also apply makeup or eyelashes and remove unwanted hair.
Estheticians in Illinois aren't licensed to perform in-depth medical procedures, including Botox.
Though graduates of cosmetology programs may perform esthetic services, cosmetology licensure requires a total of 1,500 hours and includes hair and nail care.
If you're interested in working only with skin as an esthetician, the state law says you may earn an esthetician license with only 750 hours of training from a state-approved esthetics program.
Classes must cover, at a minimum, the following topics:
Can I Apprentice as an Esthetician in Illinois?
Illinois has no apprenticeship pathway to earning an esthetician's license.
Illinois Esthetician Licensing Requirements
If you meet the age and educational requirements, you can apply to take the esthetics licensure exam.
This 90-minute written exam, administered by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC), costs $30 to take. The exam divides the required subjects listed above into two umbrellas, with the following amounts of focus:
You have three chances to pass the exam with at least a 75% score—if that doesn't happen, the state will require you to take an additional 125 hours of remedial esthetician training before you can apply to take the exam again.
Illinois Esthetician Licensure Reciprocity
If you have an esthetician license in another state and want to work in Illinois, the state offers licensure by endorsement.
For an endorsement to be possible, your state's licensure requirements must be similar to those of Illinois, or you need to have worked as a licensed esthetician for a certain amount of time. A full year of employment generally equals 150 hours of training.
In addition to proving your training meets or exceeds Illinois' requirements, you need to submit an application package to the IDFPR. The package must include official proof of licensure, proof of any name change (if applicable), and a $45 fee.
Esthetician Specialties in Illinois
If you want to offer specialized services in Illinois but don't want to obtain additional licensure, consider researching popular types of spas, salons, and treatments in your community.
In Illinois, many esthetics programs and salons/spas emphasize green practices, including the use of sustainable, natural products. While this is not a licensure specialty, it may be possible to study green or eco-friendly esthetics in your program or through continuing education.
You may also be able to earn additional certifications or undergo training related to specific treatments, products, or equipment. While programs must cover introductory practices for many of these specialties, additional training can set you apart.
For example, certifications or continuing education may be available in eyelash extensions, corrective esthetics, or lymph drainage.
Some spas and salons offer on-the-job training programs for certain treatments or products they may use.
While there isn't a license for medical estheticians, these professionals may perform all treatments estheticians can—plus a little more. They often work in locations traditional estheticians often can't, like dermatologists' offices. While some places may hire you and train you on the job, taking courses independently could give you a leg up on the competition.
Esthetician License Renewal in Illinois
License renewal period
Continuing education required
Your esthetician license in Illinois is good for two years, at which point you must renew your license. All licenses expire on September 30 of each odd-numbered year.
During the two years between expiration dates, you must complete 10 hours of continuing education units (CEUs), five of which can be completed online, to qualify for renewal.
All beauty professionals in Illinois must complete a one-hour CEU over domestic violence and sexual assault awareness. Estheticians are especially well-positioned to recognize signs of abuse due to their work on various parts of the body, allowing them to notice things like scars and bruises others may not see.
Contact the Illinois State Board of Esthetics
- 100 West Randolph, 9th Floor Chicago, IL 60601
- Website: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Call: 888-473-4858
Here are some additional resources for estheticians in Illinois.
America's Beauty Show
Headquartered in Chicago, IL, this U.S. chapter of CIDESCO provides members with access to industry news, policy advocacy, continuing education opportunities, networking, insider access to products and supplies, and more.
Chicago Magazine
This lifestyle publication highlights the best of the Chicago area, from news and politics to food and drink, culture, and style, including features on makeup, skincare, and other beauty-related subjects.